Tropidoclonion
| lined snake | |
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| Texas lined snake Tropidoclonion lineatum texanum |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Subfamily: | Natricinae |
| Genus: | Tropidoclonion |
| Species: | T. lineatum |
| Binomial name | |
| Tropidoclonion lineatum (Hallowell, 1856) |
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| Synonyms | |
Tropidoclonion is a genus of small colubrid snakes known as lined snakes. There is a single species Tropidoclonion lineatum in the genus, with four subspecies.
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[edit] Subspecies
- Central lined snake, Tropidoclonion lineatum annectens Ramsey, 1953
- Northern lined snake, Tropidoclonion lineatum lineatum (Hallowell, 1856)
- Merten's lined snake, Tropidoclonion lineatum mertensi Smith, 1965
- Texas lined snake, Tropidoclonion lineatum texanum Ramsey, 1953
[edit] Geographic range
Lined snakes are found throughout the central United States from Illinois to Texas. They prefer grassland areas with soft, moist soils.
[edit] Description
Lined snakes are olive green to brown with a distinctive tan or yellow stripe down their backs from head to tail. They have similar stripes down each side on scale rows 2 & 3.[1] On the belly they have a double row of clean-cut black half-moon spots running down the middle.[2]They have a narrow head and small eyes. Adult size is typically less than 35 cm (14 in.).
[edit] Behavior
Lined snakes are semi-fossorial, spending most of their time hiding under rocks, leaf litter, logs, or buried in the soil. The majority of their diet consists of earthworms.
[edit] Reproduction
They are ovoviviparous, the young being born in August. The average brood is 7 to 8.[3] The newborn juveniles are 10-12 cm (4-4¾ in.) long at birth.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Schmidt, K.P. and D.D. Davis. 1941. Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. G.P. Putnam's Son's. New York.
- ^ Conant, Roger. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin. Boston.
- ^ Force, E.R. 1931. Habits and Birth of the Lined Snake, Tropidoclonion lineatum (Hallowell). Copeia, 1931, pp. 51-53.
- ^ Conant, Roger. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin. Boston.
- Species Tropidoclonion lineatum at The Reptile Database
[edit] External links
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